Mr. Pelton has been practicing law for over 37 years (18+ in Houston and 19+ in Abilene). An Abilene native, Mr. Pelton graduated from Abilene High School and McMurry College, now McMurry University. After graduating from McMurry in 1972 with a major in Accounting, he attended the South Texas College of Law while working full-time as the personal accountant for W.B. "Tex" and Sue Fondren Trammell. While going to school, Mr. Pelton was also an enlisted/commissioned soldier in the Texas Army National Guard, with 7+ years of service. He graduated from Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia at...

Jonathan Zendeh Del has been chosen one of the “Top Lawyers in Houston” by Houstonia Magazine and has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star. Jonathan has been featured in Texas Monthly Magazine A Galveston, Texas native, Jonathan is a graduate of Baylor University, where he earned his B.B.A. in Real Estate and Management. After completing his undergraduate studies, Jonathan moved to Oklahoma to attend law school on a merit scholarship. Jonathan graduated from law school at the top of his class. While in law school, Jonathan was a member of the Law School Honor Fraternity, the Student...

Don Philbin, J.D., M.B.A., LL.M., was named “Lawyer of the Year” in San Antonio by Best Lawyers® (2014, 2016), was recognized as the 2011 Outstanding Lawyer in Mediation by the San Antonio Business Journal, is one of eight Texas lawyers listed in The International Who’s Who of Commercial Mediation, and is listed in Texas Super Lawyers. He is an elected fellow of the International Academy of Mediators, the American Academy of Civil Trial Mediators, the Texas Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, and is past chair of the State Bar of Texas ADR Section. Don is also president of Picture It Settled®,...

After obtaining his Juris Doctorate degree, with honors, from Texas Tech School of Law in 1991, Jim gained a great deal of experience practicing labor and employment law in Houston with Andrews & Kurth. He made the move to Williams Kherkher in 1995 and is now partner of the firm. Jim is dedicated to helping his clients get the best possible results from their cases. He has tried a wide range of personal injury law suits in Texas and Pennsylvania involving toxic torts, product liability, work-related injuries, and more. He was named a Super Lawyer by Thompson Reuters between the...

Mr. Coane received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors from Penn State University in 1979. He received a Juris Doctor Degree in Law from the University of Houston in 1981, and is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas and has been admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United State Court of Appeals in Chicago, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Atlanta and San Francisco. He is also admitted to practice by the U.S. District Court for the Northern...

JOHN R. WALKER is a Partner in SBSB's Houston office. For the past almost twenty-five years, it has been my privilege to represent insurance and employer interests focusing on the defense of claims brought under the Longshore and Harbor Act, the Defense Base (DBA), the Non-Appropriated Funds (NAF) Instrumentalities Act, the Jones Act, and General Maritime and Admiralty Law. Additionally, John also has extensive experience in First Party Insurance Defense matters, representing employers, insurance carriers, and third parties in State, Federal and Appellate courts. Prior to joining the firm, John handled First Party Insurance Defense,...

Kalandra N. Wheeler is a trial lawyer with Rob Wiley, P.C. representing employees in Dallas, Houston, and surrounding areas. Ms. Wheeler is dedicated to protecting the rights of employees and helping individuals understand what is often a confusing and stressful process. Ms. Wheeler represents employees with various types of claims, including those brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Ms. Wheeler also represents employees in governmental administrative proceedings, including those held before...

Adair Buckner’s primary practice involves representing employers in labor and employment matters in Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle. Adair has been Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of Texas since 1996. Her experience includes defending employers on charges and in trial for discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour, family medical leave, wrongful discharge, non-compete, and other employment matters in both federal and state courts, as well as in mediation and before other governmental agencies. She routinely represents employers in a wide variety of matters, including claims arising under...

Michael P. “Mike” Metcalf doing business as Metcalf Mediation & Arbitration Services is engaged in the practice of law that centers on the mediation and arbitration of civil disputes. Judge Metcalf has more than 40 years of legal experience that includes service in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corp, as a District Attorney, District Judge and trial lawyer. Mike, a trial lawyer, is board-certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law.

Judge Metcalf was a judicial pioneer who recognized the need for litigants to seek a resolution to their case...

Ruth A. Kollman is a 1990 graduate of Southern Methodist University School of Law. She has tried dozens of state and federal cases, both civil and criminal. She also has extensive state and federal appellate experience. She counsels attorneys throughout Texas in disciplinary rule compliance, in firms both large and small, in every area of practice. Texas courts have recognized her as an expert witness on legal ethics questions, and she has testified before the Texas Legislature regarding revisions to the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure. She represents lawyers and judges in disciplinary proceedings and has...

Anton Montano is the principal attorney of the Montano Law Firm PLLC, and has almost 19 years of experience licensed as an attorney and counselor at law in Texas. Mr. Montano focuses on assisting small businesses and individuals with their legal needs in business, employment, and tax law.

Jim Zadeh is a sole practitioner who gives each of his clients the attention they deserve. He has more than 25 years of experience in many areas of the law, including: Wrongful Death, Personal Injuries, Work Injuries, Denial of Insurance, Commercial Litigation, Non-Compete Agreements, and Sexual Harassment

Nicole M. Conger is an Employee Rights Attorney who represents clients across Texas who are subjected to illegal treatment with their current or former employers. Nicole received her law degree Magna Cum Laude from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2011 where she was an Associate Editor for the St. Mary’s Law Journal, member of the Board of Advocates, as well as, clerking for the Honorable Emilio M. Garza on the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

Nicole’s practice focuses on labor disputes against large and small companies in various Texas and Federal jurisdictions. She has successfully represented...

Texas business attorney, Charles M.R. Vethan, earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence at Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta, Canada. Mr. Vethan served as an editor for The International Lawyer, as well as authored articles on international letters of credit, the role of insurance defense counsel in complex litigation matters, and Implied Licenses in Copyrights. He also presented courses through the National Business Institute to attorneys and CPAs on corporate structure and governance. Mr. Vethan is one of less than 20 attorneys practicing in Texas who are...

Our civil litigation attorney Charles Ruhmann opened our personal injury and employment litigation practice with a single philosophy: People deserve a voice for justice. Our staff and Charles work directly with each of our clients throughout the case. We are responsive to our clients' needs and concerns, and remain approachable and personable from the moment our potential client walks in the door until our client receives their final settlement. After all, your case is about YOU. Our office philosophy is that our clients are our bosses and that we work for them and will be given the utmost respect,...

C. D. "Chuck" Cowan is a fifth generation native East Texan who knows the law, the language and the landscape very, very well. He was admitted to The State Bar of Texas in 1990 ; The U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas in 1991; The U. S. District Court, Northern District...

Attorney Beatriz “Bea” Sosa-Morris was born in McAllen, Texas, and raised in Angleton, Texas. She watched her parents' American dream come to fruition when they started their small business called "Angleton Tire Shop." At that moment, she knew that she wanted to realize her American dream and enter a profession in which she could assist others through difficult times in their lives. Her first job was at the family tire shop where she developed her work ethic. Her family turned a rundown fruit stand into a tire shop where every member of her immediate family has worked including...

Throughout his career, Eddie has had the opportunity to take on the largest defendants. After graduating from law school, Mr. Rodriguez he honed the writing skills that he utilizes today to win for his clients working for various appellate court judges. Mr. Rodriguez served the Great State of Texas as the Chief Committee Clerk of the Human Services Committee in the Texas House of Representatives where he managed over one hundred pieces of legislation during the tumultuous 78th Legislative Session. He has represented petrochemical and construction workers in their personal injury claims. Eddie mastered his...

Mrs. Boone-Costantino is an experienced civil litigator practicing in the Bailey & Galyen Summit Avenue office. Dori received a Bachelors of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of North Texas, and a Juris Doctor degree from Texas Wesleyan School of Law. As a law student Dori actively argued on a Moot Court Team and held a fellowship to complete Legislative Research for the 81st and 82nd Texas Legislature. She has been licensed to practice law in Texas since 2010. She is committed to working closely with each client to ensure that they understand the legal process and that their...

David Hodges, founding partner at Kennedy Hodges, LLP, was born in McAllen, Texas, and moved to Cypress when he was seven. He attended Cy-Fair Senior High School, and discovered he wanted to go to law school after participating in a mock trial in his senior government class.
After graduation, he joined the Corps of Cadets and attended Texas A&M University where he earned his B.S. degree in 1989. After graduating from Texas A&M University, he was immediately commissioned in the Navy and deployed to the Persian Gulf. During Desert Storm, he often worked 20 hour days as an Aviation...

For over 35 years, David has successfully guided individuals, small and large businesses through regulatory landscapes and continues to ensure his business clients are advantaged by prompt and innovative counsel. His litigation skills have been tempered coast-to-coast achieving remarkably brilliant outcomes. He is a graduate of the University Of Oklahoma College Of Law and holds a Masters of Law Degree(Labor)from Southern Methodist University. He was elected to membership in the American Law Institute and elected a Fellow in the College of Labor & Employment Law, David is the father of six children and an active civic leader.

A graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, Mr. Broemer practices almost exclusively in the areas of Labor and Employment Law, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Litigation and Plan Design/Compliance issues, and Risk Management. Mr. Broemer represents primarily self-insuring employers, employee welfare benefit plans, third party administrators, plan reinsurers, and local government plans.
Mr. Broemer is also a leading member of the ABA's Labor and Employment Law Section and Employee Benefits Committee ("ABA-EBC"), as well as a contributing member of Sub-Committees on Welfare Benefits Plans, Federal Civil Procedure, and ERISA Preemption.
Mr. Broemer has served in the past as the Management Chair of...

Daniel B. Ross
Austin, Texas
phone (512) 474-7677
fax (512) 474-5306
Daniel B. Ross was born in Harvey, Illinois, in 1956 and grew up in Longview, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas with a B.A. in the Plan II Honors Program with High Honors in May 1978. Upon graduation, he operated several successful businesses in Austin, Texas. After his career as an entrepreneur, Mr. Ross attended the University of Texas School of Law, from which he received his Juris Doctor in 1994. Mr. Ross was Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review, and was a...

Eric Dama is a trial attorney in the Dallas office of Rob Wiley, P.C. Mr. Dama received his law degree from Baylor University School of Law, where he completed Baylor’s renowned Practice Court program. There, Mr. Dama received extensive litigation and trial training from some of the best trial lawyers and judges in the country. Mr. Dama is licensed to practice law in the state of Texas. He is admitted to practice in federal court and all state courts in Texas. Additionally, Mr. Dama is a member of the Dallas Bar Association – Labor and Employment Section, and the...

Mr. Jones handles select criminal defense, employment, and injury actions. Mr. Jones is also qualified to handle cases in military courts. Mr. Jones seeks justice on behalf of individuals who may otherwise be "steamrolled" by powerful corporations or the unforgiving criminal justice system. DaSean leverages life lessons learned from his experience as an Army combat arms officer to overcome legal battles. Mr. Jones has a can-do attitude and lives for a challenge. Mr. Jones is a decorated Iraqi War veteran. He has tried multiple cases to verdict and works hard to leverage the facts of each...

Attorney Ned Gill III, is a reputed lawyer who has been committed to the field of family law for quite a handful of years. Belonging to a family associated with law and jurisdiction in Texas, Mr. Ned Gill III is undoubtedly a name with a high recall value amongst the people of Texas. Under his scope of work lies litigation/Mediation for divorce cases, arbitration and more. Being one of the most sought after professional lawyers in the arena of family law in United State, what distinguishes him is his intelligent and expert legal advice to all his customers seeking legal...

Colin Walsh is a trial attorney with the Austin office of Rob Wiley, P.C. Since joining the firm in 2011, Mr. Walsh has aggressively represented clients in state court, federal court, administrative actions, and internal grievance hearings. He has appeared before state and federal trial court judges, administrative law judges, and hearing officers throughout Texas and in Washington, D.C. Mr. Walsh also has extensive appellate experience. He has drafted numerous appellate briefs for both state and federal courts, including the Texas Supreme Court. Mr. Walsh has argued before the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans, the...

Employment law governs the relationship between workers and their employers. This law, contained in federal and state statutes, administrative regulations, and judicial decisions, specifies the rights and restrictions applicable to each party in the workplace.

This area of law regulates such issues as employee benefits, discipline, hiring, firing, leave, payroll, and health and safety in the workplace. It also encompasses non-compete agreements, retaliation, severance, unemployment compensation, pensions, whistle-blowing, worker classification, wage garnishment, work authorization for non-U.S. citizens, worker's compensation, and employee handbooks.

Both federal and state laws govern the relationship between employees and employers. Federal laws such as Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Age Discrimination in Employment Act prohibit employers from discriminating against employees based on certain characteristics. Many states have enacted their own laws similar to federal ones (and sometimes are more stringent). Cities and counties also can enact ordinances that affect employee rights, such as local minimum wage laws.

Employment lawyers can choose to accept only employees as clients, only employers, or both. Some attorneys focus on a specific area of employment law, such as workers' compensation, whistleblowing or discrimination, but many can handle a wide range of employment law issues.

Essential job functions:
The fundamental job duties of the employment position that the individual with a disability holds or desires. The term essential functions does not include marginal functions of the position.

Exempt employee:
An employee who is not entitled to the minimum wage or overtime pay protections of the Fair Labor Standards Act.